The Journal
Anger at home, mishaps in the kitchen, gestures that bring us back
Essays for the mothers and fathers who have already read the books, followed the podcasts, taken the advice — and still catch themselves yelling, or crying quietly over a cake that collapsed. Search below, or follow a theme.
11 articles
Anger and repair · 6 min read
I Yell at My Kids All the Time: What No One Tells You About Invisible Exhaustion
The search "I yell at my kids all the time" is typed every day. Here's what the usual methods don't tell you — and one gesture to begin tonight.
Anger and repair · 7 min read
The 90 Seconds That Change Everything: The Window Most Parents Miss
You have 90 seconds to keep from exploding at your kids. It's the window most parents miss — and what neuroscience teaches us to do instead.
Anger and repair · 6 min read
Why Breathing Isn't Enough (And What Your Hands Know Instead)
You breathe, you practice 4-7-8, and you're still on the verge of exploding. Here's why breathing isn't enough — and what your hands know instead.
Anger and repair · 7 min read
Why Do I Get Angrier With This One Child Than the Others?
If you find yourself angrier at one child in particular, three philosophical hypotheses to understand — without guilt. By Sèna Gay-Vigan.
Anger and repair · 7 min read
How to Repair After Yelling at Your Child, Without Drowning in Guilt?
Repairing after yelling isn't apologizing on repeat. Three philosophical gestures to restore, without guilt. By Sèna Gay-Vigan.
Kitchen and failure · 6 min read
When your child can't handle failure: why the answer might be in your kitchen
How to help a child face failure without saying too much, or too little. A gentler way — through the kitchen, the hands, and you.
The family table · 6 min read
Why family meals change everything
Discover why family meals are so much more than food. A culinary philosophy to turn your table into a space of deep connection with your children.
The family table · 8 min read
When your child refuses to eat their vegetables — what if it were good news?
Your child refuses to eat their vegetables? Discover why this refusal is a philosophical opportunity and how to turn the dinner battle into a moment of connection.
Parental burnout · 9 min read
Parental Burnout: The Signs, and Why Rest Doesn’t Mend It
Exhausted, and sleep changes nothing? Parental burnout has specific signs, and a structural reason it doesn’t yield to rest. Here it is.
Parental burnout · 6 min read
The Twelve Signs of Parental Burnout Nobody Names
The official lists give four signs. There are twelve more, small and daily, that nobody names. You may well recognise yourself in them.
Parental burnout · 5 min read
Dear Highly-Involved, Overwhelmed, Naturally Exhausted Parents. Why Do You Give So Much?
You are the deeply involved parents others call too sensitive or too soft. What if your empathy were the resource — not the weakness — that the world no longer dares to carry?
With tenderness,
Sèna